RESUMES and COVER LETTERS

210798

Harvard

RESUMES

and

COVER LETTERS

OFFICE OF CAREER SERVICES

Harvard University · Faculty of Arts and Sciences www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu

CAREER AND ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER

Harvard Extension School

Extension School

Resumes and Cover Letters

An Extension School Resource

© 20 President and Fellows of Harvard College

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way without the express written permission of the Harvard University Faculty of Arts & Sciences Office o f Career Services.

Office of Career Services

Harvard University

Faculty

of Arts & Sciences

Cambridge, MA 02138

www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu A

Create a Strong Resume

resume is a brief, informative summary of your abilities, education, and experi- ence. It should highlight your strongest assets and skills relevant to the job for which you are applying, and differentiate you from other can- didates seeking similar positions. Although it alone will not get you a job or internship, a good resume is an important element toward obtain- ing an interview.

Tailor your resume to the type of position you

are seeking. This does not mean that all of your experience must relate directly, but your resume should reflect the kind of skills the employer would value.

RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS

RESUME TIPS

RESUME

LANGUAGE SHOULD BE:

• Specific rather than general

•Active rather than passive

•Written to express not impress

•Articulate rather than “flowery"

•Fact-based (quantify and qualify)

•Written for people who scan quickly

DON'T: •Use personal pronouns (such as I)

•A bbreviate •Use a n arrative style •N umber or letter categories •Use slang or colloquialisms •I nclude a picture •Include age o r sex •L ist references TOP

5 RESUME MISTAKES:

Spelling and grammar errors

Missing email and phone information

Usin g passive language instead of "action" words

Not well organized, concise, or easy to skim

Not tailored to the position or industry

DO: •Be c onsistent in format and content •Make it easy to read and follow, balancing white space •Use consistent spacing, bold, and capitalization for emphasis •List headings (such as Experience) in order of importance •Within headings, list information in reverse chron- ological order (most recent first) •Avoid information gaps such as a missing summer •Be sure that your formatting translated properly if converted to a .pdf

PLAN TO WORK INTERNATIONALLY?

Resume

guidelines can vary from country to country.

NEED HELP?

•CARC/OCS Resume and Cover Letter Webinar. Learn the nuts and bolts of getting started. See the CARC or OCS websites for dates. •HES Call-ins. First Monday of the month or second Monday, if the first is a holida y, Sep-May, 1:00-3:45pm (10 minutes). Phone (617 -496-8946) or Skype (amandacpeters. at.ocs) during call-in hours only. Available to currently registered Extension School students and alumni only. •Career Advising Appointments. Matriculated degree students and alumni only. Please set up a 30-minute appointment vi a

Crimson Careers; offered year-round.

RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS

Action Verbs for your Resume

LEADERSHIP

Accomplished

Achieved Administered Analyzed Assigned Attained Chaired Consolidated

Contracted

Coordinated Delegated Developed Directed Earned Evaluated Executed

Handled

Headed Impacted Improved Increased Led Mastered Orchestrated Organized Oversaw Planned Predicted Prioritized Produced Proved Recommended

Regulated

Reorganized Reviewed Scheduled Spearheaded Strengthened Supervised Surpassed

COMMUNICATION

Addressed Arbitrated Arranged Authored Collaborated Convinced Corresponded Delivered

Developed Directed

Documented Drafted Edited Energized Enlisted Formulated Influenced Interpreted Lectured Liaised Mediated Moderated Negotiated Persuaded Presented Promoted Publicized Reconciled Recruited Reported Rewrote Spoke

Suggested Synthesized Translated Verbalized Wrote

RESEARCH

Clarified Collected Concluded Conducted Constructed Critiqued Derived Determined Diagnosed Discovered Evaluated Examined Extracted Formed Identified Inspected Interpreted Interviewed Investigated Modeled Organized Resolved Reviewed Summarized

Surveyed

Systematized Tested

Harvard

RESUMES

and

COVER LETTERS

OFFICE OF CAREER SERVICES

Harvard University · Faculty of Arts and Sciences www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu

CAREER AND ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER

Harvard Extension School

Extension School

Resumes and Cover Letters

An Extension School Resource

© 20 President and Fellows of Harvard College

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way without the express written permission of the Harvard University Faculty of Arts & Sciences Office o f Career Services.

Office of Career Services

Harvard University

Faculty

of Arts & Sciences

Cambridge, MA 02138

www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu A

Create a Strong Resume

resume is a brief, informative summary of your abilities, education, and experi- ence. It should highlight your strongest assets and skills relevant to the job for which you are applying, and differentiate you from other can- didates seeking similar positions. Although it alone will not get you a job or internship, a good resume is an important element toward obtain- ing an interview.

Tailor your resume to the type of position you

are seeking. This does not mean that all of your experience must relate directly, but your resume should reflect the kind of skills the employer would value.

RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS

RESUME TIPS

RESUME

LANGUAGE SHOULD BE:

• Specific rather than general

•Active rather than passive

•Written to express not impress

•Articulate rather than “flowery"

•Fact-based (quantify and qualify)

•Written for people who scan quickly

DON'T: •Use personal pronouns (such as I)

•A bbreviate •Use a n arrative style •N umber or letter categories •Use slang or colloquialisms •I nclude a picture •Include age o r sex •L ist references TOP

5 RESUME MISTAKES:

Spelling and grammar errors

Missing email and phone information

Usin g passive language instead of "action" words

Not well organized, concise, or easy to skim

Not tailored to the position or industry

DO: •Be c onsistent in format and content •Make it easy to read and follow, balancing white space •Use consistent spacing, bold, and capitalization for emphasis •List headings (such as Experience) in order of importance •Within headings, list information in reverse chron- ological order (most recent first) •Avoid information gaps such as a missing summer •Be sure that your formatting translated properly if converted to a .pdf

PLAN TO WORK INTERNATIONALLY?

Resume

guidelines can vary from country to country.

NEED HELP?

•CARC/OCS Resume and Cover Letter Webinar. Learn the nuts and bolts of getting started. See the CARC or OCS websites for dates. •HES Call-ins. First Monday of the month or second Monday, if the first is a holida y, Sep-May, 1:00-3:45pm (10 minutes). Phone (617 -496-8946) or Skype (amandacpeters. at.ocs) during call-in hours only. Available to currently registered Extension School students and alumni only. •Career Advising Appointments. Matriculated degree students and alumni only. Please set up a 30-minute appointment vi a

Crimson Careers; offered year-round.

RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS

Action Verbs for your Resume

LEADERSHIP

Accomplished

Achieved Administered Analyzed Assigned Attained Chaired Consolidated

Contracted

Coordinated Delegated Developed Directed Earned Evaluated Executed

Handled

Headed Impacted Improved Increased Led Mastered Orchestrated Organized Oversaw Planned Predicted Prioritized Produced Proved Recommended

Regulated

Reorganized Reviewed Scheduled Spearheaded Strengthened Supervised Surpassed

COMMUNICATION

Addressed Arbitrated Arranged Authored Collaborated Convinced Corresponded Delivered

Developed Directed

Documented Drafted Edited Energized Enlisted Formulated Influenced Interpreted Lectured Liaised Mediated Moderated Negotiated Persuaded Presented Promoted Publicized Reconciled Recruited Reported Rewrote Spoke

Suggested Synthesized Translated Verbalized Wrote

RESEARCH

Clarified Collected Concluded Conducted Constructed Critiqued Derived Determined Diagnosed Discovered Evaluated Examined Extracted Formed Identified Inspected Interpreted Interviewed Investigated Modeled Organized Resolved Reviewed Summarized

Surveyed

Systematized Tested